Nero Blanc

This trim entry in the crossword-mystery series written by husband and wife Cordelia Frances Biddle and Steve Zettler, under the pseudonym Nero Blanc, is harmless fun for crossword lovers and fans of light mysteries set during the holidays. Opening the day after Thanksgiving, as the annual contest of decorating the Paul Revere Inn for Christmas in eighteenth-century fashion begins, the authors give the story a genuine warmth of the holiday season.

Belle is the crossword puzzle editor for The show more Newcastle Evening Crier. She is joining her friends Sara and Martha from the church sewing group in an attempt to win a contest they've lost 4 years in a row. Morgan and Mitchell, twins and owners of the Inn, are constantly at odds over the expensive trappings Mitchell believes lends authenticity to the Inn's name. The original Longfellow poem hangs as a reminder of Newcastle's past.

When that framed historic poem is stolen, Belle's husband Rosco, an ex-cop turned private detective, looks into the matter. More intrigue surfaces when Belle discovers a book of puzzles. The book is filled with delicious recipes, but the ingredients are contained within the puzzles, so that the crosswords must be completed in order to enjoy them. As added nostalgia, the clues involves my favorite era, the 1940s!

A young teenager named E.T. Whitman has a sorry home-life but a love of words and helps Belle and Rosco do some sleuthing. The historic document’s sudden return leads to new discoveries about old crimes, long hidden and forgotten. The solving of the mystery has an added bonus for young Whitman I can't reveal.

A light cozy and holiday atmosphere makes this a nice read for Christmas, or those who wish it was Christmas year-round. Rosco and Belle are a warm and fun couple, and their love for their dogs Kit and Gabby is endearing. Anyone who enjoys a very light cozy mystery with seasonal ambience, and warm likable characters will enjoy this book. The recipes and crosswords are included, but Belle and Rosco, a.k.a. - Cordelia and Steve, have included the answers at the back if you get stuck. An enjoyable read. show less

Cordelia Frances Biddle and Steve Zettler, writing under the pseudonym, Nero Blanc, wrote this fun little collection of cozy mysteries for the holiday season. I picked this one up many years ago after enjoying A Crossword’s Delight. This one is a collection of shorter cozy mysteries which are a nice distraction when your reading time is limited.

HOLLY JOLLY ROGER takes place in Saint Lucia, and is filled with tropical fun at Christmas. There is a puzzle which Roscoe and Belle must solve as show more they enjoy their surroundings. And in this story, appropriate to the title, there may even be a treasure.

A CROSSWORD’S GIFT takes place just as the Christmas rush is beginning in Las Vegas

THE ERASER’S EDGE has the couple finding mystery at the Grand Canyon, with some humorous Hitchcock references from a pal at the end.

CROSS STITCH is probably my least favorite story because it doesn't involve Rosco and Belle, but it's still an enjoyable little distraction.

MYSTERY AT WOODSWORTH HOUSE is personal favorite here. It has snow and an atmosphere of winter holiday fun. Fans will love the spelling clues of lamps beneath the snow as they join the couple for their romantic holiday getaway.

Trying to do the included crosswords is fun, but the answers are in the back if you have trouble. This is a nice, non-taxing light mystery, good for crossword fans. A pleasant distraction for the holidays, or any time, as long as you aren’t expecting anything other than a short cozy. show less

Thompson C. Briephs, an eccentric crossword puzzle editor, is found strangled to death. The police think it's kinky sex gone wrong, but Rosco Polycrates, a private investigator hired by the victim's mother, soon has reason to believe otherwise. In an effort to understand the victim and his world better, Rosco talks to Annabelle (Belle) Graham, another crossword puzzle editor, and the two find themselves more intrigued by and comfortable with each other than is maybe wise, considering that show more Belle is married.

Belle suspects that Briephs included a clue about his murderer's identity in one or more of several unpublished puzzles he created prior to his death. Unfortunately, most of the puzzles have gone missing. Even if that weren't the case, each puzzle includes a different name. How are they supposed to narrow things down, especially when several people had a motive for the murder?

This started off okay. Blackmail, murder, and Briephs' odd home, which was designed to be a labyrinth. Rosco had a bit of a noir detective vibe to him, but less hard-edged. Belle was devoted to her work, smart, and beautiful. It was clear, early on, that her marriage was a sore spot for her. If I remember right, her husband was away on an archaeological dig. Belle seemed lonely, but at the same time she and her husband didn't seem to mesh well, right down to Belle not really feeling comfortable in the parts of her house that most featured her husband's decorating touch. It was obvious that the author planned to end Belle's marriage at some point and pair her off with Rosco. I just didn't expect this to progress as quickly as it did, and it didn't sit well with me.

The mystery was okay, but forgettable. I thought that the whole "clue in the crossword puzzles" bit was very contrived, and I'm not sure the logic held together well. It seemed like quite a leap from those puzzles to figuring out the identity of the murderer.

I did really like the labyrinth, though. It made for an excellent location for a tense chase scene involving the killer.

Extras:

Each of Briephs' crossword puzzles is included in the book. I didn't bother to try to solve them because I'm terrible at crossword puzzles at the best of times.

(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.) show less

In this 3rd installation of the Crossword Murders series the action focuses around Belle Graham and her fiance Rosco Polycrates upcoming nuptials.
Unfortunately, the plot seems very contrived (Belle has a stalker, Rosco gets kidnapped, everything works out just in the end) and the characters seem to do themselves in with stupidity. Belle makes stupid moves. Rosco has dumb responses. And, in the end, I don't even understand why the kidnapper kidnapped him in the first place. She was a minor show more character that seemed to have little on no relevance to the plot until the end. I probably rated this one higher than it deserved due to previously liking the first two in the series but it does seem the authors phoned it in on this one. I will give the next one in the series a try before I abandon the series altogether. show less